Compromise likely in today’s crucial UNP meeting?

The United National Party (UNP)’s top two presidential hopefuls are expected to reach a compromise today, as party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and deputy leader Sajith Premadasa meet for discussions at Temple Trees this evening.

A source close to the Prime Minister told RepublicNext that the Wickremesinghe faction is “quite positive” about the highly anticipated talks, which the source said was first suggested by Minister Malik Samarawickrama, the former Wickremesinghe ally who has now found himself in the Premadasa camp.

“We expect them (Premadasa and his team) to come up with a constructive proposal at today’s meeting,” the source said, adding that the Prime Minister had agreed to the meeting at “their insistence”.

Wickremesinghe on Friday indicated his desire to run for President, with the possibility of naming Premadasa as his Prime Ministerial partner.